Taking into consideration the fact that Antigone is the protagonist of the play, Creon is claimed to play the antagonist role. He represents the force Antigone is in opposition to. As it was said before, there are some facts that put him into the protagonist shoes. There’s a range of good supportive points for this fact, but the best one is that the King of Thebes is the one, who can boast of having the moments of both – anagnorisis and peripeteia.

In Sophocles play Antigone the main characters; Antigone, Creon, Ismene and Haemon go through the process of Greek tragedy, which consists of Creon transforming from the proud lord of Thebes to a defeated, grief-stricken mortal. The play takes place in the city of Thebes and its countryside. This story seems the same as other Greek tragedies in that one of the character’s decisions affects other characters, usually with a negative outcome. Creon and Antigone are both stubborn and do not listen to others. Creon declares that Antigone will be killed since she decided to go against his decree, that her brother Polyneices would not be buried since he fought against Thebes and Eteocles. Creon is warned that, “stubborn self-will incurs a charge of stupidity” (L, 1028) and that he should reconsider his options. With no regard to what he’s been told Creon his decision does not falter. Finally when Creon comes to his senses it is too late, he discovers his son Haemon has killed himself and that Antigone is dead too. The play ends with Creon regretting his actions and both dead.

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Tragic Hero Essay Antigone Themes

In other words, there are many points to support Creon as protagonist, but nonetheless, Antigone is there too. Creon’s niece is the one who keeps the action of the story. Antigone sets the tragedy of Sophocles into motion. Despite Creon’s edict, Antigone is the one, who buries Polyneices. And finally it is her suicide that makes her beloved one, Haemon, to commit suicide. This, in turn, is the cause behind the Creon’s wife death. Besides, it is obvious that we are most likely to sympathize Antigone till the last page of the play, not the King. Of course, there is a platform for friendly debates over the protagonist of the play, but everyone should agree that Antigone is the cause of the storm.

Antigone Themes from LitCharts | The creators of SparkNotes

It is dawn, and the house is still asleep. Antigone sneaks in and the Nurse appears and asks where she has been. Suddenly Ismene enters, also asking where Antigone has been. Antigone sends the Nurse away for coffee. Ismene declares that they cannot bury Polynices and that she must understand Creon's intentions. Antigone refuses and bids Ismene to go back to bed. Suddenly Haemon enters and Antigone asks Haemon to hold her with all his strength. She tells him that she will never be able to marry him. Stupefied, Haemon departs. Ismene returns, terrified that Antigone will attempt to bury Polynices despite the daylight. Antigone reveals that she has already done so.

Reviews

“ The Chorus introduces the players. Antigone is the girl who will rise up alone and die young. Haemon, Antigone's dashing fiancé, chats with Ismene, her beautiful sister. Though one would have expected Haemon to go for Ismene, he inexplicably proposed to Antigone on the night of a ball. Creon is king of Thebes, bound to the duties of rule. Next to the sisters' sits the Nurse and Queen Eurydice. Eurydice will knit until the time comes for her to go to her room and die. Finally three Guards play cards, indifferent to the tragedy before them. ”